Cut-out.



PATENTED NOV; 13, 1906.

R. A. BALDWIN.

GUT-OUT.

APPLICATION FILED Sill-18.1905.

To all whom it may concern:

. cifples of my invention.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROLLIN A. BALDWIN,

OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TION OF CONNECTICUT.

I CUT-OUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed September 8, 1905, Serial No. 277.616

Be it known that I, ROLLIN A. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cut-Outs,

- of which the following is a fuIl, clear, and exact description.

Myinvention relates to automatic cut-outs.

In the operation of suburban trolley-lines, as well as many other railroad installations, signal devices are employed for many purposes, and it is customary to use ordinary incandescent lamps. These furnish an efiicient signal, are inexpensive and easy to install, and are always directly operable from the main power-circuit. The only drawback is the liability of a burn-out, which might cause a failure of the signals. The gufrpose of my invention is to eliminate this e ect.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which shall automatically cut in a second lamp as soon as burn-out occurs and which shall be extremely simple and protected against dust and damp and bad weather.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of arts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set Iorth, as shown in the accompanying drawin s, and finally particularly pointed out in t e appended claims. I

vIn the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a cut-out embodying the prin- Fig. 2 is a side view the same. Fig.- 3 is a diagram of the electrical circuits.

One of the features which I aim to secure in my form of cut-out is certainty of operation, which shall not be interfered with by any ordinary causessuch as imperfection in workmanshi 0r rust, or corrosion ofthe parts, due to disuse or- .unfavorable atmospheric conditions. In the use for which my cut-out is particularly designed its operation is only occasional; but it is important that it should operate properly when such occasion arises.

Referring to the drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, in which like parts are designated by. the same reference-signs wherever they occur, 1

States, residing at New. Haven, in the county of New Haven and designates a frame or casing having a generally cupped or box-shaped form and which constitutes a portion of the magnetic circuit of the cut-out. 2 indicates a cover which is applied to the open end of the box or casing 1, so as to tightly close the same and may be provided with a stud 2 for a purpose which will later appear. In ractically carrying out my invention I ma e both the cover 2 and the box 1 of cast-iron and form integral lugs 3, 4, 5, and 6 upon the latter. The lugs 3 and 4 may have bolt-openings therein and constitute the means by which the cut-out is secured in its desired position. The lugs 5 and 6 constitute supporting means for an insulating plate or support 7. 8 indicates screws by which this plate is held in position on the lugs.

, The insulating plate or support 7 carries certain electrical contacts 9 and 10, which constitutea part of the electrical circuit of my cut-out. In its preferred form each of these comprises a simple machine-screw passed through a pair of openings 9 and 10 within the insulating-support 'Z and provided with nuts 11 and 12, which also constitute electrical contact points. The terminal wires are conveniently connected to --the screws 9 and 10 by being merely clamped under the heads thereof.

Within the frame or casing 1 I arrange an electromagnetic coil 13, which I prefer to wind 11 on a short brass tube-section :14, which a so forms a support for the spool ends 15 and 16. The terminal wires of the magnetic coil 13 are ledout of the casing in anv convenient way, but preferably througlh openings 17 and 18, havmg insulating-bus in s 19 and 20 inset therein. I I

Ioosely extending into the center of the coil 13, through the tube-section 14 thereof, and projecting through a hole 21 in the outer casing I arrange what I shall term a floating armature, which comprises an ordinary iece of soft iron having a stem 22/ and a arge flat head 22. The engagement of the stem 22- within the holes 21 and the tube-sec tion 14 is extremely loose, so as to allow perfect freedom of play therein, and the proportions of the parts are preferably such that the stem 22 is comparatively short and stout with reference to the large flat head 20. The

mounting of this part is such that whenever the magnetic coil 13 is energized it will act partly as a solenoid and partly as an ironclad magnet, producing poles at 2 and 21 and strongly attract the floating armature 22.

When the magnetic coil 13 is not energized, the floating armature 22 will fall by gravity until its head 22 rests against the nuts 11 and 12, and since the floating armature is very loosely mounted in its guiding-tube 14 and has a comparatively large flat head 22 it will rest on the bolts 11 and 12, substantially equally dividing its weight between them. I consider this an important feature of the invention, since if the head were small and the shank 22 long the floating armature might be constrained to rest unequally upon the supporting contact-bolts 11 12. This feature is of course not absolutely essential, however.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, in which is illustrated the electrical connections of the device in use with a signal-lamp, the operation is as follows: Imagine the apparatus to be out of operation and no current passing. Under these circumstances the coil 13 will be denergized', and the floating armature 21 will rest upon the bolts 11 12, so as to form a bridge or electrical connection thereacross. Under these circumstances current will pass from the line-wire Z branch 1 and lamp L, wire 1 coil 13, wire Z to line-wire Z forming a complete circuit. The lamp L will thereby become illuminated and the magnet-coil 13 energized, so as to attract the floating armature 22 and break contact at both the points 11 and 12. This will cause the branch m containing the lamp L, to be broken at this point, so that the lamp L will not be displayed, but only the lamp L. This situation will continue as long as the lamp L carries current-in other words, for the entire life of the same; but when it burns out the circuit, through the coil 13 will be broken and the floating armature 22 will drop freely to bridge across the contacts 11 12. This at once establishes a circuit. through the lamp L which in turn will be illuminated during In practice the illumination of the' its life. lamp Ii constitutes an indication that the lamp L needs replacing.

On account of the form of the casing which I use a perfect protection against damp and unfavorable atmospheric conditions is attained, and, furthermore, the iron-clad magnet, which gives a very powerful force to raise the floating armature, has comparatively few turns of wire in the coil .13, which thereby need not be of a resistance sufficient to influence the lamp L. By the provision of a floating armature in a loose guiding-tube 14 I secure a bearing contact between iron and brass, which is advanta eous, I avoid springs and, above all, pivota joints, which are liable to corrode or rust tight and prevent pro er actuation of a cut-out.

at I claim is 1. In a cut-out, a cylindrical casing open at its upper end and having a pair of lugs on its lower face, an insulatin Tplate secured to said lugs, said plate being lield thereby in a spaced relation tothe lower face of the casing, a coil within said casing, an iron cover for said casing having a central stud projecting axially into said coil, a floating armature having a large flat head contained in the space between said face and said insulatingplate, and having a shank projecting into said coil, and a pair of contacts in said plate arranged to be bridged by said armature when the latter falls to its lowermost posi.

tion by gravity.

2. In a cut-out, an iron casing having a pair of lugs projecting from its lower face, an insulating-plate supported by said lugs and held in spaced relation from the lower face of said casing, a central hole through said casin a coil within the casing coaxial with said he e, a pair of contacts on said plate, and a floating armature having a shank projecting into said coil and arranged to fall upon said contacts by gravity and establish an electric circuit therebetween.

3. In a cut-out, a cylindrical casing having a central hole-and having studs projecting from its lower face, a plate supported by said studs and held thereby in spaced relation from said lower face, a coil'within'the casing and coaxial with said hole, an armature having a shank projecting through said hole and into said coil, said shank being of an appreciably less diameter than the diameter of said hole, said armature having a large flat head contained in said space between said insulating-plate and the lower face of said casing, and a pair of contacts in said late and arranged to be bridged by said flat ead when the armature falls thereon by gravity.

In witness whereof I subscribe my signature in the presence of" two witnesses.

ROLLIN A. BALDWIN. Witnesses WILLIAM A. Bonsr, FREDERICK M. WARD. 

